Sperm count is dropping in Western world. Photo: istockphoto
(Newswire.net — July 26, 2017) — The way we live directly impacts our reproduction capability, scientists say. A new study suggests that sperm counts have halved in less than 40 years, BBC reports.
Analyzing the results of nearly 200 sperm count studies between 1973 and 2011 researchers found a 59.3% decline in total sperm count in men from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
“If we will not change the ways that we are living and the environment and the chemicals that we are exposed to, I am very worried about what will happen in the future,” epidemiologist Dr Hagai Levine, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem stated for BBC.
“Eventually we may have a problem, and with reproduction in general, and it may be the extinction of the human species,” said Dr Levine.
Although no significant decline was seen in South America, Asia and Africa, Dr Levine stressed that there is a lack of quality research in these countries and he is worried that proper studies could confirm sperm quantity decline even in countries with highly dense populations.
Skeptics, however, point to the fact that sperm count was implemented in fertility clinics and that the samples are not representative in order to conduct serious research. Another argument is that the study referred to articles on reproductive disabilities that were published during a 40 year period and the fact is that low sperm count studies have a higher likelihood of getting published in scientific journals rather than those that dispute this theory.
Also, the data from the 70’s may be not as accurate as recent findings because early methods of counting sperm were not as sophisticated as the methods used by contemporary science.
Altogether, there are a lot of confounding variables that raise suspicion in the data accuracy, feeding the skeptics’ concern.
Other distinguished scientists, however, fear that the Dr Levine’s findings may be very accurate. Professor Allan Pacey of Sheffield University said he never truly believed in similar studies “however, the study today by Dr Levine and his colleagues deals head-on with many of the deficiencies of previous studies,” Prof Pacey said.
“The debate has not yet been resolved and there is clearly much work still to be done,” the BBC cited Prof Pacey.
Although there is no clear evidence pointing to a cause of the alleged decrease in sperm count over the last four decades, scientists believe that among other factors, smoking and obesity are leading contributors for the possible low sperm count. Also, exposure to chemicals used in pesticides and plastics, stress, diet, and even watching too much TV can allegedly cause a decrease in sperm quantity.